UF VB | Gators Set for Two-Game Road Contest

Gators travel to Missouri for a Friday night matchup, then head to Arkansas on Sunday for a top-20 matchup.

Match Notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2023/11/16/24_Missouri.pdf>

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 20th-ranked Florida volleyball team continues its road series, heading to Columbia, Missouri on Friday to face the Mizzou Tigers, then head’s south for a top-20 matchup against No. 10 Arkansas on Sunday.
Friday’s serve is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC+, and Sunday’s at 4 p.m. ET on SEC Network with Missy Whittemore and Eric Frede on the call.

Friday’s matchup is the only match-up between the Gators and the Tigers for the season, as both teams are coming off wins. Florida 3-0 to Alabama on Sunday and Missouri a 3-1 upset over No. 24 Auburn. The Razorbacks have also won their last three contests, battling back against Ole Miss for a reverse sweep on Wednesday night.

The Gators hold the advantage in both series: 12-5 (12-5 under Wise) and 4-3 on the road against Missouri; 50-4 (50-4 under Wise) and 20-2 on the road against Arkansas.

Last time against Missouri (Nov. 4, 2022)

* GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 12th-ranked Florida volleyball team downed the Missouri Tigers in straight sets on Friday night in Exactech Arena to remain atop the SEC standings.
* Florida started the match with a 25-22 win, then followed that with a come-from-behind 25-17 victory in the second frame. UF closed out the match with a tightly-contested 25-23 win in the third.
* The Gators’ offensive attack was led by a 16-kill performance from Marina Markova, while Merritt Beason followed with 13 kills of her own. Gabrielle Essix posted nine in the victory with a .667 clip, while Sofia Victoria (6) and Bre Kelley (5) combined for 11.
* Rookie setter Alexis Stucky led the team to a .314 clip on the night, dishing out 46 assists – a three-set high for the Laramie, Wy. native.
* Florida’s defense held Missouri to just a .144 hitting efficiency in the match, tallying 10.0 blocks in the three-setter. Essix posted a team-high five at the net, followed by three apiece from Beason and Kelley.
* Elli McKissock paced the backcourt for the Gators, coming up with 11 digs on the night. Trinity Adams pitched in a 10-dig effort, while Beason and Stucky each recorded five in the win.
Last time against Arkansas (Oct. 29, 2023)

* GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 19 Florida Volleyball team fell to No. 10 Arkansas in three on Sunday afternoon inside the Exactech Arena.
* Arkansas took the first frame 25-19, then followed with a 25-20 win in the second to take a 2-0 match lead. The Razorbacks closed out a tightly-contested third set with a 25-23 win.
* Freshman Kennedy Martin posted a team-high 11 kills, with Sofia Victoria adding nine of her own. Gabbi Essix added six to finish with a .600 clip off of 10 attempts as well as AC Fitzpatrick recorded six of her own.
* Fifth year setter Kennedy Muff dished out 31 assists, while Elli McKissock recorded three of her own in the three-setter.
* The Gators finished with a total six team blocks, with Nnedi Okammor finishing with one solo block.
* Senior Elli Mckissock led the backcourt defense on Sunday afternoon, posting 12 digs. Muff added seven of her own, while Trinity Adams (6) and Emily Canaan (6) combined for 12.
* Three Gators recorded one ace a piece: Kennedy Muff, Kennedy Martin, and Emily Canaan.
Gators in the SEC

* Through the season thus far, Florida has at least one player ranked in the following categories:
* Kennedy Martin: Kills per set (1st | 4.30) Points per set: (2nd | 5.10)
* Anna Dixon: Hitting percentage (3rd | .363)
* Kennedy Muff: Assists per set (6th | 9.98)
* Gabbi Essix: Blocks per set (6th | 1.24)
* Nnedi Okammor: Blocks per set (7th | 1.19)
* Elli McKissock: Digs per set (8th | 3.78)
* Through the season thus far, Florida is ranked in the Top-5 in the conference in the following categories:
* Blocks per set: (2nd | 2.58)
* Hitting percentage: (4th | .266)
* Kills per set: (4th | 13.20)
* Assists per set: (5th | 12.38)
* Service aces per set: (5th |1.62)

No. 20 Florida vs. Missouri Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Nov. 17 | 7:30 p.m. ET
Live Stream: SEC+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/87387590-6eaa-4dc9-8451-3eb3324b60a0> | Live Stats: Statbroadcast <http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=478407>
Series Information – No. 21 Florida vs. Missouri
Tigers | 2023 season: 17-9, 9-6 SEC

* This is the 18th meeting between the Gators and the Tigers
* Florida leads 12-5 (12-5 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 7-1 | 4-set: 3-1 | 5-set: 2-3
* Home: 7-2 | Away: 4-3 | Neutral: 1-0
* Last Time Out: Nov. 4, 2022 | Gainesville, Fla. | W, 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-23)
No. 20 Florida vs. No. 10 Arkansas
Date & Time: Nov. 19 | 4 p.m. ET
Live Stream: SEC Network<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/76c6f3bc-ea65-4307-9db5-d70407cd9cb8> | Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=474229>
Series Information – No. 20 Florida vs. No. 10 Arkansas
Razorbacks | 2023 season: 23-4, 13-2 SEC